Manchild (TV Series 2002–2003) Poster

(2002–2003)

User Reviews

Review this title
11 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
fun with middle aged dudes
dr_foreman29 August 2004
I'm only 24, so why do I relate to this series about aging British guys? I suppose men never change, regardless of age; we're always out for sex. Since that's what this show is all about, Manchild has been billed as "Sex in the City for men." But, unlike its US counterpart, Manchild is frequently willing to poke fun at its oversexed leads as they indulge in their quest to nab younger women. They're lame... lovable, too, but lame.

Great performances all around, which helps to make the characters sympathetic despite their flaws. I've liked Havers ("Chariots of Fire" and the wonderful "Sleepers") for a long time, and it's nice to see Anthony Head in a series that doesn't stink (*ahem*). The big surprises, though, were two guys I'd never heard of; Ray Burdis is extremely cuddly and funny as a worn-out husband, and Don Warrington gives a totally insane performance as everyone's arty, rich, totally crazy buddy.

Like most British shows, Manchild comes and goes quickly; it's only seven half hour episodes. Maybe that's all you need to tell this kind of story. American shows, by contrast, just repeat themselves endlessly...so there may as well only be seven episodes!
13 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Wonderfully written and very funny look at four middle aged sybaritic but charming men
trpdean25 February 2021
I loved this series! Four wealthy friends about to turn 50 - one single, two divorced and one married - all but the bachelor with children -- are now ready to enjoy the material delights of life in a way they trust will flatter their pride as desirable men. They have ups and downs - and we come to hugely enjoy them despite their ovious lust for decadence, their selfishness (except in reality - they are not) and their self-regard. It's very funny! I'd strongly recommend the series! Nigel Havers as the lead - and voice-over in every episode - is just perfect in his cadences and intonations - and wild sensitivity about his male pride. But all the actors in truth win your heart.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Men's "Sex In The City"
hillari9 July 2004
Well done show from the UK! It draws some comparisons to HBO's "Sex In The City", but it goes deeper than that. The men show their hopes, fears, and quirks more than most other male characters I have seen on TV. They aren't goofs, they aren't losers. They are middle-aged men who have figured some of life out, but like most people, still are finding out there are a lot of things to learn about life. Their takes on women are funny as well as insightful. One of the best episodes had the guys partying with a confirmed playboy all night. They begin the night impressed with the guy's lifestyle, but as the evening goes on, they like less and less of what they see in him--and themselves. When a tragedy ends the fun, they all learn sobering lessons. More shows like this should be produced for TV.
11 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
20 years on
safenoe30 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I remember watching Manchild soon after it was first released, and the series explored themes of life, love and sex for males in their 40s and beyond. I'd love to see a sequel 20 years on and how the fab four have navigated their way through life in the past two decades.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
This series doesn't do much for me
scotty-375 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The idea for this series is interesting, but I had a hard time buying into it that these rich, often spoiled, 50-something men were all swanning around together to begin with.

Of the men, 2 are divorced, one seems never to have been married and one is married. They all hang out together in their seemingly extensive leisure time, drive fancy cars, inhabit big houses and seem to be focused on picking up chicks 25 years their juniors.

The acting is good enough, but I mostly had a problem with the premise, the plot-lines and the set ups.

The narration throughout each episode was bothersome to me since it is mostly a bunch of pretentious drivel about the stages of a man's life and how it relates to sex. Perhaps it's meant to be ironic and expose the character of one of the main characters, but if so it's not particularly funny or ironic. It keeps droning on in the same pretentious way throughout the episode and if it's supposed to add a light-hearted touch it utterly fails. This kind of thing works better in the Sex and the City universe than it does here.

I don't particularly know men that chum around together in the way that these guys do. Maybe it's different in London, but the chatter that fills each episode didn't strike me as especially authentic or likely for men that I know. Who wrote this stuff? I also noticed in the IMDb ratings that women of all ages rated this show much, much more highly than men did. Maybe this show isn't really targeted to men or meant to represent them, but is instead targeted at appealing to womens' conceptions of men or their projections onto them.

In any case, I can see why the show only lasted a few seasons. It's an unusual subject for TV to tackle sex-obsessed, gossipy, Peter Pan-syndrome middle-aged men, but maybe there is a reason for the lack of shows like this one. I'd guess that most average people will not find these shows very authentic or interesting, but mostly pretentious, unfunny and bizarre.
0 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
If your male and over 40 this is required viewing
nessmuk19 April 2003
They approach the issues with humor and sensitivity. I have found the show to be entertaining and educational. As Terry said "to be fit and solvent by 50" is a mantra all of us plus 40 men can subscribe to. Issues they have tackled is everything from the trials of tribulations of having a girlfriend half your age to the death of a parent. All done in good taste The four friends play well off each other and have qualities to be admired and problems that we can relate to. Some times the solutions to these problems can be pure genius. Another element of the show is fantasy. There is not one of us working stiffs, who has not wondered what it would be like to have a boat load of money and unlimited time to play with it. In a nut shell, great show. I hope it stays on for a long time. It is the only reason I have found to justify paying the outrageous rate they want for cable in our area.
6 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
great show
tolga00923 September 2005
I tried to watch all of the episodes of this show last year when they aired it on bbc prime, and thought that it was truly delicious! Why delicious? Because us guys, we are what we are, be it at 14, 24 or 54. It was a great insight to what will happen to us, and how our friendships and relationships and how we might develop in the next 30 years.

Havers and Head were always supreme, and I could start to understand Haver's characters obsession with trying to get along with the youth even though I am only 25.

For those who like to watch real stories, much like a nick hornby novel, with warmth and humor, this is a must.
6 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Four men at 50
eugeal3 February 2005
Manchild is the story of four friends. They know each other from childhood and always shared their experiences. Now they are all rich and at 50 they want to act like teenagers again, buying nice cars and dating young women. Sometimes they can be very silly or do wrong things, but in the end their friendship is always the most important thing. This series has only 14 episodes so far (7 in the first season and seven in the second) and I think it's just perfect. Manchild is never boring and sometimes it makes you think. Someone said that Manchild's target are men over 40, but I think that everyone can enjoy it. I'm a young woman and I totally love it! All the 4 actors are very skilled and I love seeing Anthony Head in a role so different from Rupert Giles. I really hope that the second season will come out on DVD very soon!
8 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Boy to Man to Boy to Man with bells on!
Aberlass31 July 2002
Superb. Unique. Long awaited. Much needed. Something for the lads, something for the non-teeny set, something for someone older than 30! There are millions of shows that cover every corner of girlhood and womanhood, so at long last - something for older men and women who love them or at least have to put up with them!

They may be very 40+ or even 50+, but the script, dialogue, imagery and inspired scenarios read like real fantasy life set to comedy lyric music. Superb. Ladies will love it too because the narrative is explored in a format that is uniquely female owned, hence relatable. It is revealing to see men dialoguing in such a female 'type' format, but also deeply endearing. Men will love it, because at long last they have their own show where they get to 'win' even when they are loosing!

Why has it taken so long to create this masterpiece? Superb writing, superb realization, superb acting, superb characterization, superb exploration of themes, superb comedy writing. A pure joy, even when tackling the most human flaws revealingly it's rawness is embarrassing yet joyful and real! We need this male comedy realism. More! More! More! Superb!
9 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Interesting variation on familiar themes
bchabel18 April 2002
Think HBO's Sex in the City transposed to England and the four females transformed into four men facing age 50. As with the HBO show, virtually all they think or talk about is sex. some of this is very amusing. some not at all.

A focus on characters well out of the advertising industry's favored demographic is refreshing in and of itself. The acting is very good. The show will live or die on the basis of writing. These characters and their libidinous fixations could become tedious before long.

For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, be warned, the character Anthony Head plays says and does some very, very un-Gileslike things.
4 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
watch it
iamOphelia5 May 2002
this is an excellent show

for those who don't know, you can see it on bbc america

a worthwhile station that only sends the best

very funny comedy on 4 midlife men

some thing to think about

men and their twisted psyches, hehe he
5 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed